Pin-setting apparatus for bowling-alleys.



PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

E. P. HEATH. PIN SETTING APPARATUS PoR BOWLING ALLEYS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

, MII:

gibt/Leases v /1/. f i

PATETED JUNE 25, 1907.

E. E. HEATH. PIN SETTING APPARATUS POR BOWLING ALLEYS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.25. 1905.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

4UNITED STATES PATENT oEErcE.

FUN-SETTING.: APPARATUS Fon. BowLmG-ALLEYS.

No. 857.939. v

Specification of Letters Patent. l

Application led November 25, 1905. Serial No. 289,106.

lPatented June 25, 1-907.

To @ZZ whom/it may concern: f

i Be it known that I, ELMER E. HEATH, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Smethport, in the county of McKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pin-Setting Apparatus for Bowling-Alleys, of which the following is a'speciication, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in bowling pin Setters for bowling alleys.

.atin .pair oiv It pertains particularly to a pin carrying and .setting frame which is adapted to operate on two or more alleys.

Among the objects of the invention is tol prrovide a triangular p in carrying and setting ame which is pivoted to swing from one alley to the other and is adapted to be operatled' by one man for setting thepinson the a eys. A

Another object is. to provide for the proper placing of the pins u on the pin spots by automatically actuate devices which irst permit the pin to drop upon the alley and then act to place it accurately upon the pin spot.

Other objects of the invention will be mani-- fest from the description of the mechanism embodying my improvement, which is herein shown and described for the purposes of illustration.` y

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing two parallel bowling-alleys provided with a in setter embodying iny improvements. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of a pin carrying and setting frame embodying my improvements, showing the parts in their normal positions when the frame is elevated above the alley.

Fig. 3 is ato planview of the frameshown 1 in Fig. 2, wit the partsin the position which they take when the frame has been lowered to set the pins on'one alley and to place them on the deslred pin spots. Fig. 4 is a, vertical section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 shows in perspective a`portion of aco-operpinsetting slats anda portionof a si e'wall the frame adjacent toone end of said slats. Fig. 7 isa vertical section'on the line L -4, Fig. 3, showing the position ofL the parts immedlately after thev laterallygreciprocating slats have snapped back. away from thepins-which they have just -directed on to the pin spots. Figs. 8 andQ show deans: i

In the drawings 1 indicatesas an entirety a bowling alley of any preferred constrliction port orstandard.

and a similar alley arranged parallel to the iirst one. y

3 indicates a pit at the rear ends of the alleys it being divided into sections by means of a dividing board 3 each section lbeing adapted to receive the pins from one of the alleys.

4-4 indicate the cushions or buiers at the back of thev pit, these being of any preferred construction.

5 indicates as an entirety the pin Setting apparatus. It :comprises primarily a revoluble frame or standard 5 supported by a suitable frame work and itin turn supporting the pin carrying and setting frame which is indicated as an entirety lby 6. The standard 5 -is refer'ably hollow throughout its length and) is fitted over and is revoluble about a brace or standard Irod 5b, which is securedat its lower end t,o the iioor of the alley and at its upper end to the ceilingof the room or to some other suitably rigid struc- Y ture.- ,y

5C is a thrust ball-bearing arranged between the lower end of the hollow sup ort or standard 5 and the iioor. The standhrd 5D may be longitudinally adjustable to adapt it to rooms of different heights. For the pur-v pose of illustration I have indicated the upper end of the said standard as Jformed 1n two arts, one recessed and the other provided) with a tongue adapted to. engage the walls of said recess and to be held in any position of adjustment thereinby means of a set screw 5d. f

7-indicates a bracing frame for the revoluble hollowsupport 5. This frame 7 preferably comprises vertically arranged rods 7 7', arranged at'either side ofthe standard 5 and each connected at its upper end to the ceiling in any preferred manner and each connected to the other at its lower end vby a cross member 7 awhich carries at its center a collar 7b loosely fitted tothe said 'revoluble standard or support 5'.

8 is a, hand wheel secured tothe support 5 and adapted to facilitate rotation byhand of the said standard or support. The pin carrying and setting frame 6 may be attached to its revoluble carrier or support 5g in Iany suitable manner so as to permit the vertical or u and down movement of the ,said frame re ative to the said carrier or support while at the-same time being adapted to cause the frame to rotate with the said sup- IOO VIIO

' For the purposes of illustration I have shown a connection betweenthe su port and the pin frame comprising a lateral y extending plate or arm 9 having one end fitted to the said support or standard and adapted to move up and down relatively thereto and carrying a guide or lug 9 which engages with the walls of a vertical, longitudinal groove 5C in the said support or standard 5. At its other end this plate or arm 9 is rigidly secured to and supports the adjacent end of the pin carrying and setting frame 6, By means of this connection between the frame and its supporting standard it will be seen that the frame can be moved up and down relatively to the standard and rotated with it. To facilitate the operation of the mechanism I have found it advisable to have the frame counterbalanced in such manner that it can be raised and lowered with ease. This balancing is accomplished by means of a weiglit 10 suspende from a pulley 11 carried by an arm 5e at the upper end of the revoluble support or standard 5. The Weight is preferably suspended at one end by a cord or rope 12, the other end of which is connected'to the end or corner of the frame 6 nearest the revoluble support 5. The weight should be sufficient to counterbalance the weight of the frame 6 when it is loaded with its full complement or set of pins. It will thus be seen that the frame can be raised or lowered with ease, and that after it has de osited the pins on the pin spots, or, in ot er words,

when it is empty of pins, the tendency of the weight 10 will be to elevate the frame above the alley.

9a is an opening through the arm 9 through` which the weight 10 may pass up and down during the relative up and down travel of the Weight and arm.

The pin carrying and setting frame 6 is preferably triangular in form and has, as previously described, one of its corners rigidly secured to the standard engaging plate or arm 9. The vertical bounding walls or sides of the frame are indicated by 6, 6a and 6b.

`Near their lower edges the walls 6a and 6b are longitudinally grooved substantially parallel with the surface of the alley as indicated at 6c and adapted to receive the adjacent ends of the co`operating pairs of l laterallyl reciprocating slats' which form the on to the alley.

perforated bottom of the frame, as well as the means for accurately placing the pins on the pin spots after they have been dropped The pairs of slats are indicated respectively by 13-13; 14-14; 15-15; and 16-16, each slat of each pair extending from the wall 6b to the Wall 6a. The slats of each pair are normallyv held apart from each other and this may be accomplished in various ways. For the purpose of illustration I have indicated the slats` 13-14 connected together by straps or bars 17-17; the slats 13 and 14 connected by a strap or bar 18;,the slats 14 and 15 connected together by the straps or bars 19 the slats 14 and 15 connected together by 'the straps or bars Z0-20; the slats or bars 15 and 16 connected together by the straps or bars 2121 and the slats 15 and 16 connected together by the straps or bars 2]-2l.

22 indicates-recesses or grooves. extending vertically through the slats. There are as many of these grooves or recesses in each slat as the number of pins which the slat is adapted to set up. The grooves or recesses of the slats of each co-operating pair of slats are arranged in alinemcnt with each other or will occupy a definite fixed position relative to the others in the frame.

tween the slats of severa] of the pairs of slats and adapted to normally hold all of the slats apart the spring, force being transmitted through the straps or bars connecting the various 'slats together to attain this result.

' 24 indicate rocking or swinging, pin supporting and depositing plates or racks. There are as many of these rocking or swinging plates as there are pairs of 3o-operating slats at the bottom of the frame 6. These plates are preferably arranged between the walls 6a and 6b of the frame and are parallel with the Walls 6 thereof. Each vof the rocking plates is pivotally mounted at either end near its center to the adjacent wall of the frame as indicated at 24 and is adapted to be rocked about the axis of said pivot. The plates are transversely grooved ontheir upper surfaces as indicated at 24a be considered receiving pockets or grooves inl which the pins are to be inserted. Each rocking plate is provided with one or more of these transverse grooves in accordance with its position in the'triangular frame and the number ol' pins which it is to carry and deposit. All of the rocking plates are connected together at their top edges-by means of .straps or tie rods 25 each extending between the top edges of adjacent plates and hinged at either end to the adjoining edge of the adjacent plate, as indicated at 25.

plates will operate times.

26 indicate partition or abutment plates arranged in a series and each plate extending between the Walls 6a and 6b of the frame simultaneously at all andbeing parallel with the wall 6 thereof.

Thisl construction insures that all of the rocking ing through tk em and to insure that the pin A 23 indicate spiral springs arranged beto form what may rocking plate which has its lower end be neath the top edge of the said partition or abutment plate when the rocking plate is in inclined pin receiving position. `lrelerably each of these partitions or abutment plates 26 is tangent to the curve of the cut-out portion or recess 22 of the laterally reciprocating pin setting slat which is immediately bev neath it when the said slat is in its normal .position apart from its co-operating slat.

The second and fourth rocking plates from the axis of the standard 5 are providedwith arms 24b at either end of the plate which extend at right angles therefrom near the transverse center' of the plates.

27 are vertical reciprocatable rods or pins extending from points beneath the frame upward through vertically elongated slots 27 in the laterally vreciprocating slats immediately beneath the arms 24b on the said roeking plates. These pins or rods 27 are adapted to engage with the reeends of the said arms 24b and to rock-the arms and the plates 24 about the horizontal axes at 24. 'lhese pins or rods 27 may be normally held in their lowermost position with their lower ends some little distance beneath the frame by means of springs 27, each secured at one end to the adjacent bounding wall of the gular frame and hav/ingnits-ether end bearing against/apollafl'b on the said rod or pin. 27 C are guides for the said rods each secured to the adjacent bounding wall of the triangular frame and adapted to guide the rod or pin in its up and down travel and to engage with the collar 27 b when the pin or rod is depressed in order to limit the downward travel of the pin'or rod. However, the downward travel of the pins 27 may be actuated by gravity alone instead oflby spring pressure when desired. l l

The lateral movement of the slats of each co-operating pair of pin setting slats, whereby said slats are caused to travel toward each other against the action of the springs 23 is effected by means of a mechanism which is indicated as an. entirety by 28. Of

this mechanism 2S is atransversely arranged l' shaft mounted at either end 1n bearings 1n the adjacent'wallsA 6a, 6b, of the triangular frame. Near either end thisl shaft has secured to it double arm levers 28a, The free ends of the upper arms of said levers are connected by rods 28b to the oppositeends of the'slat 14 and the llower ends of'the under arms of the levers 28a are connected by slat 14.

28l is a lever arm rigidly secured to the sha'lft28 -near its center and arranged at an angle to the arms of the double lever 28a.

29 is a rod or pin lor actuating the lever 28a. `This rod orpin extends through a vertical bearing in the plate 13a arranged in the corner between the walls 6a and 6b. Normally this pin 29 extends downward below the bottom of the frame to a distance somewhat less than the normal distance of the bottom of the pins'27 from the bottom of the frame. The rod 29 is preferablyformed in two parts hinged togetheras indicated at 29 -in such manner as tohave its upper end adapted to swing away from the axis ol' the shalt 2S under certain conditions.

29a is a spring securedat one end to the lower part ol the -rod 29 and having its upper free end bearing against the upper hinged mall y in alinement with the lower part of the rod.

29b 'is a collar on the lower part'of the rod 29 against which the free end of a spring 29 bears, the other end of this spring being secured to the frame in any suitable manner.

lows: Assuming that the pin carrying and setting frame `is in elevated position above one of the alleys and that the operator has rocked the series of rocking plates 24 into its ment orset of pins, 5%()Jeis/pla'c'e/dY in the frame rpinbeingdrrped into one of the transerse grooves in one of the rocking plates 24 and being heldin inclined position on the plate by one of the vertical abutment and guide walls 26. The frame is then lowered to itf and as soon as theglower edges of the pins 27 engagethe oor of the alley the said pins begin to. travel upwardly and t swing the rocking plates 24 about their longitudinal horizontal axes at 24, the walls 26 serving to guide the pins bearing against them downward and at the same time co-operating with 'the adjacent rocking plates to effect the righting of the pins into vertical position. Shortly after the rods 27 have engaged the floor of the alley and have commenced to rock the plates 24, or as soon as the plates24 have been rockedA so as`- to, be practically parallel with the plates 26 and have dropped the pins through the openings between' the slats immediately beneath them, the lower end of the through the mechanism indicated as an enating pairivof slats to travel laterally toward ings l22 between the slats and directing the means of rods 28' to the opposite ends of the The operation of the mechanismis as fol' tirety by 28 causes the slats of each co-op`er each other decreasing the area of the openpart of the rod. 29 and adapted to hold it nor- I inclined pin receiving positionk.a/eomple- IOO IOS

the alley by simply pressing downward upon l rod 29 engages with the floor ofthe alley and pins between the slats of each pair of slats -onto the precise pin spot desired.v` As soon as the pins have been properly placed upon their respective spots the upper hinged end of the rod or pin 2,9 slips from the free end of' the arm 28d and bends back in such manner as to permit the said arm 28d to rock or swing downward free of the rod 29, this downward swinging of the arm 28 being effected by the springs 23 tending to force the slats of each co-operating pair of slats apart. The frame may then be raised by applying pressure to it upwardly at any point, it being free at'all points to rise up and away from the pins without eilecting their positions on the spots. As 'the frame is raised above the alley, the pins or rods 27 drop down to their normal position or are forced down by the springs controlling them as the case may be and the spring 29C forces the rod 29 down until the upper edge of its upper hinged end, which is lcam surfaced as indicated at 29d, snaps back into proper position under the free end of the arm 28d. The frame is then swung to the other alley and the rocking plates are swung into pin receiving position and the frame is ready to receive the pins to be set up in this alley. i

mlhwill be noted that lhave so arranged the frame and the rocking plates relatively to the axis about which the frame is swung, that the pins are properly placed on each alley and that when the frames are above eitleralleythe rocking plates are in the most advantageous position for having the pins placed therein by the operator in tnepitgr By arranging the supportingvstandard between the. alleys as shown and connecting the setting frame therewith .by one of its corners or apeXes it follows that when the frame is swung over one alley one corner. is disposed in the central vertical longitudinal planeof the alley; and that when the frame is swung over the other alley, the other free corner of the frame occupies the same relative position to the alley over which the frame rests, that is to say it is in the central vertical longitudinal -ing them in upright position upon vthe alley,

plane, and pointing to the front, of that alley.

at l claim is:

lv-.t'fIn-.avpin setting apparatus for bowling alleys, the combination with. a pin carrying and depositing frame, of means movable in the frame in planes substantially parallel with the surface of the alley, adapted to engage the pins after they are deposited upon the alley and to arrange them accurately in predetermined relation to each other.

2.v In a pin setting apparatus for bowling alleys, the combination of a frame having side walls, for carrying the pins and depositand means carried by the side walls of the frame arrangedto slide relatively thereto, for engaging the pins after/they are in upright position upon the alley and arranging them accurately in predetermined relation to each other.

3. In a pin setting apparatus for bowlingalleys, the combination of, al frame for receiving, carrying and depositing the pins upon the alley, having theside walls and a perforated bottom through which the pins are arranged to pass, the said bottom being formed of separate parts movable relative to each other and arranged to engage with the pins when the frame is set upon the alley and accurately arrange the pins, substantially as set forth.

4. In a pin setting apparatus for bowling alleys, the combination of a frame adapted to receive the pins in inclined position having a perforated bottom through which the pins are adapted to pass formed of separate parts movable relative to each other, means for delivering the pins from the frame and depositing them upon the alley in upright position, and means for operating the movable parts of the b ottom of the frame to cause them to engage with the pins after they are deposited upon the alley and to place them accurately in predetermined re- Y lation to each other.

5. ln a pin setter for bowling alleys, the combination of a frame, a series of rocking pin receiving and depositingrslats arranged within the said frame, means for rocking the said slats when the frame approaches the alley in order to deposit the pins on the alley in upright position, and means movable inl the frame in planes substantially parallel with the surface of the alley for engaging the pinsafter they are deposited upon the alley and placing them accurately in predetermined relation to each other.

'6. In a pin setting apparatus for bowling alleys, the combinationpof a frame having a perforated bottom through-which the pins 1 are adapted to pass formed of separate parts movablerelative to each other, a series 6f\-\ rocking pin receiving and depositing plates arranged withinsaid frame, a series of guiding plates arranged within said frame and adapted to 'co-operate with said rocking ITO plates to deposit the pins in upright position upon the alley, means for actuating said rocking plates, and means for operating the movable parts of the bottom of the frame to cause them to engage with the pins after they have been deposited upon the alley to place them accurately in predetermined relation to each other.

7. In a pin setting apparatus for bowling alleys, the combination with a frame adapted to receive the pins having a perforated bottom through which the pins pass when being set and means carried by. the frame adapted to deposit the pins 4upon an alley, of' means carried by the frame and arranged 1n the plane of the bottom thereof, adaptedto engage with the pins after they have been deposited upon the alley and to arrange them accuratelyl in predetermined iixed vrelation to each other.

8. In a pin setting apparatus for bowling alleys, the combination with a triangular,

permit the removal of the-frame without disturbing the positions ofthe pins.

9. In a pm setting apparatus for bowling alleys, -the combination of a frame, rocking plates arranged within said frame, adapted to receive .the )ins and to deposit them u on the alley, a series of pairs of co-operating s ats having pin apertures therethrough through which the said pins are directed by th'e said rocking plates, means tending to normally hold the said slats of each co-o erating pair of slats apart, and means ten( ing to force the slats of each co-operating palr toward each other after the pins have been deposited upon an alley, whereby the walls of the pin openings between the slats engage the pms VYtherein-and.arrange.themaccurately in predetermined relation to each other.

10. In a pin-setter for bowling alleys, the combination with a pair'of alle s of a pin carryingandv depositing frameor the said alleys, and means for swinging said pin carrying and depositing frame from working position in one alley to working position in the other.

11. In a pin setting apparatus for bowling alleys, the combination 'of two alleys, a pin setting frame constructed .and arranged to be elevated above the alleys to receive the pins and to be lowered to the` alleys to deposit the pins thereon, andmeansfor swinging the said frame from working position in one alley to working position in the other.

12. In a pin setting apparatus for bowling alleys, the combination of two alleys, a pin setting frame constructed and arrangedto be elevated above the alleys to receive the pins and to be lowered to the alleys to deposit the ins thereon, and means for swinging .said game from one alley to the other and adapted to permit the vertical adjustment o-the frame relative to either of said.

alleys.

` 13. In a pin setting apparatus for bowling alleys, the combination of a bowling alley anda pitat the pinlend thereof, `a vertically ladjustable pin receiving and depositingvframe and a 'series of rockingzplates in said frame rreceiving position above the other a adapted to be inclined to receive the pins land arranged in planes at an angle to the plane of said pit.

14. In a pin setting ap )aratus for bowling alleys, the combination oi a triangular frame adjustable vertically relatively to the alley, and arranged to have one of -its inclosing walls Jtransverse to the longitudinal axis of the alley when it is in pin receiving and depositing position, and a series of rocking plates arranged parallel to the said inclosing wall of the frame, each plate yoi said series being adapted to be inclined to receive a pin or pins Vand to berocked into vertical position to de osit the pins in upright position upon the a ley.

15. In a pin setting apparatus for bowling alleys, the combination with two bowling alleys, of a rotatable standard arranged near the alleys, and a triangular pin receiving and depositing frame having one corner connected to said revoluble standard and adapted to be revolved with said standard from pin receiving position above the alle?r to pin l ey.

16. In a pin setting apparatus for bowling alleys, the combination with two alleys, of a pivotally supported triangular pin receiving and depositing frame arranged to be swung from onealley to theother, and carrying a series of rocking pin receiving and depositing plates arranged parallel to lthe base of said triangular frame whose apex is adjacent to lthe axis about which the frame swings.

17. In a pin setting apparatus for bowling alleys, the combination with a pin receiving and depositing frame, of a series of pairs of co-operating slats carried by said irame,the

slats of each pair being normally held yieldingly apart and being provided with mutually co-operatir'ig pin recesses or grooves,

and means for forcing the slats of each cooperating pair toward eachother after the pins are deposited upon an alley, to s'et them accurately in predetermined re tion to each other, and then releasing the slats of each pair and allowing them to spring back .into normal separated relation to each other.

18. In a pin setting apparatus for bowling alleys, the combination with two alleys, of a triangular pin-receiving and depositing frame,

roo

a pivotal support for the frame arranged between the two alleys and a support or connection between the said frame and pivotal support connected with .the former at one of its corners whereby when' the frame is inV working position over one ofthe alleys one ofits free corners is in the central vertical 'longi tudinal plane of that alley and pointing to the front, and when the frame is swung over the otheralley the other free corner of -the Jframe is inthe central longitudinal plane alleys, the combination of a Vertical standard or support, a pin setting frame :supported by the said standard and adjustable vertically thereupon and also free to turn about the Vertical axis of the standard, and nuans for counterbalaneing' the frame, these means being also free to turn with the frame about the said vertical axis, substantially as set forth.

20. In a pin setting apparatus for bowlingV alleys, the Combination of a vertical support or standard, a pin setting fra-ine, a supporting,r arm for the frame mounted upon the support and vertically adjustable relativelyl l thereto and free yto swingr about the vertical I5 axis thereof, another arm extending out from the standard above the frame-carrying arm and free to turn therewith about the vertical axis of the standard, and counterbalalufingr mechanism for the frame supported by last forth.

2O said arm, substantially as set In tostim on'y whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. 

